The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

Last 5 news

Friday, April 30, 2004

- Appointed Fr. Nicolaus Adi Septura, M.S.C., vicar general and pastor of the Cathedral of the archdiocese of Merauke, Indonesia as metropolitan archbishop of the same archdiocese (area 90,000, population 235,000, Catholics 135,000, priests 33, religious 47). The archbishop-elect was born in Purwokerto, Indonesia in 1959 and was ordained a priest in 1989. The Pope accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese presented by Archbishop Jakobus Duivenoorde, M.S.C., upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, as his special envoy to the celebration of the 750th anniversary of the consecration of the Patriarchal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi which will take place on May 23.

- Appointed Cardinal Jan Pieter Schotte, C.I.C.M., secretary general emeritus of the Synod of Bishops, as his special envoy to the solemn celebrations of the 17th centenary of the martyrdom of St. Domnio, bishop and patron of the archdiocese of Split-Makarsk, Croatia which will take place in Split on May 6 and 7.NER:NA/.../... VIS 20040430 (180)

THE HOLY FATHER SENT A MESSAGE TO PARTICIPANTS in the international conference meeting on the theme "Confronting Globalization: Global governance and the politics of development," which has been organized by the "Centesimus Annus-Pro Pontifice" Foundation in Rome. He emphasizes the need for the process of globalization to be "stimulated by ethical values and aimed at the integral development of each human being and the entire human person." The Pope recalls that the challenge continues to be "giving life to integral globalization, identifying the causes of social and economic inequalities, and promoting operative decisions that ensure a future marked by solidarity and hope for all."

MADE PUBLIC TODAY WAS A LETTER BY THE POPE in which he appoints Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, as his special envoy to the celebrations of the 4th centenary of the arrival in Lithuania of the Brief "Quae ad sanctorum" by Pope Clement VIII who authorized the celebration of the feast of St. Casimir in Poland and Lithuania. He will be accompanied by Msgrs. Gintaras Grusas and Charles Daniel Balvo, and Fr. Robertas Salasevicius, respectively secretary general of the Lithuanian Episcopal Conference, nunciature counselor and rector of the Major Seminary in St. John of Vilnius.

ON THE OCCASION OF THE 17TH CENTENARY of the death of St. Ambrose, martyr, protector and patron of the city of Ferentino, Italy together with St. Mary Salome, the Pope sent a letter to Bishop Salvatore Boccacio of Frosinone-Veroli-Ferentino, Italy, who established a jubilee year which will end on August 1. In the Message, dated April 27, the Holy Father urges that the memory and example of this martyr saint "be for everyone an encouragement and stimulus to follow Christ in complete and docile fidelity."

JOHN PAUL II SENT BISHOP MARIANO DE NICOLO of Rimini, Italy a message for the national congress of groups and communities of Renewal in the Holy Spirit which takes place in that city from April 29 to May 2. The theme is "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create." "I hope," says the Pope, "that Renewal in the Holy Spirit kindles more and more in the Church that interior conversion without which man resists with difficulty the temptations of the flesh and the concupiscence in the world. Our age greatly needs men and women who, like rays of light, know how to convey the wonder of the Gospel and the beauty of the new life in the Spirit.".../IN BRIEF/... VIS 20040430 (420)

VATICAN CITY, APR 30, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father's general prayer intention for the month of May is: "That the family - founded on the marriage of a man and a woman - may be recognized as the basic cell of human society."

His missionary intention is: "That through the motherly intercession of Our Lady Catholic people may come to regard the Eucharist as the heart and soul of missionary activity."JPII PRAYER INTENTIONS/ MAY/... VIS 20040430 (80)

VATICAN CITY, APR 30, 2004 (VIS) - John Paul II this morning welcomed members of the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences as it celebrates both its annual plenary session and the tenth anniversary of its founding in 1994 by the Pope. He thanked outgoing president Edmond Malinvaud and offered "cordial best wishes" to incoming president Mary Ann Glendon.

In his address, the Pope noted that "the theme which you are presently studying - that of relations between generations - is closely connected to your research on globalization. In earlier times the care of grown children for their parents was taken for granted. The family was the primary place of inter-generational solidarity." There was, he said, the solidarity of marriage and the married couple which extended to the children which "in turn led to solidarity between grown children and their aging parents."

He highlighted the significant changes in inter-generational relations due to "the weakening of the marriage bond, ... and the pressures of a consumer society which cause families to divert attention from the home to the workplace or a variety of social activities. Children at times are perceived, even before birth as an obstacle to the personal fulfillment of their parents, or are seen as one object to be chosen among others."

The Holy Father said he hoped that the academy study on this issue "will lead to a clearer appreciation of the need for a solidarity which crosses generations and unites individuals and groups in mutual assistance and enrichment."

He emphasized the need to pay particular attention "to the precarious situation of many elderly persons, ...many of whom have insufficient resources or pensions, some suffer from physical maladies, while others no longer feel useful or are ashamed that they require special care, and all too many simply feel abandoned."

"In meeting these challenges," said John Paul II, "every generation and social group has a role to play. ... The family, as the origin and foundation of human society also has an irreplaceable role in the building of inter-generational solidarity. There is no age when one ceases to be a father or mother, a son or daughter."AC/PLENARY ACAD-SS/GLENDON VIS 20040430 (360)

VATICAN CITY, APR 30, 2004 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon John Paul II made "a pressing appeal in the name of the one God" for the release of all persons who have been kidnapped in Iraq. His appeal was delivered by Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, secretary for Relations with States, at the end of a march late yesterday afternoon which was organized by the families of the three Italians held hostage in Iraq.

The procession of an estimated 3,000 people departed Castel Sant'Angelo at 5 p.m., walked down Via della Conciliazione and gathered at St. Peter's Square where Archbishop Lajolo, accompanied by bishops of the dioceses of the three hostages, read the Pope's appeal.

"I can tell you," said Archbishop Lajolo, "that this morning, the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, patroness of Italy, the Holy Father celebrated Mass for the release of the hostages held in Iraq as well as for everyone in that country who is suffering. He has entrusted them to the protection of Mary, Christ's Mother and our Mother.

"In the name of the one God, Who will judge all of us, John Paul II renews his pressing appeal to the kidnappers to promptly return the persons kidnapped to their families.

"He hopes that the expression of his fatherly sentiments and his encouragement will reach those taken as hostages and will continue to sustain with courage and hope their present harsh ordeal.

"To the families and to all those close to those kidnapped by ties of affection, the Pope assures his special closeness in these moments of apprehension and anguish.

"The Holy Father does not doubt that everything is being done and that no stone is being left unturned in order to guarantee the safety of the hostages and to secure their release as soon as possible.

"At the same time, John Paul II thanks all those working to reestablish a climate of reconciliation and dialogue in Iraq with a view to fully recovering the country's sovereignty and independence, in conditions of security for the entire population.

"John Paul II exhorts the beloved Catholic community in Iraq and all Christians of the country to continue to work to reestablish an atmosphere of harmony and collaboration among all religious and social groups of the country for the common good.

"The Pope invites everyone to pray to God, Who loves the life of every person and desires no one's death, for a positive conclusion to this painful affair. At this very moment the Pope is praying in his chapel, joined to all of us in a common supplication to God."

After reading the message, the archbishop invited all present to observe a minute of silence, following which they prayed the Our Father and sang Salve Regina.JPII-APPEAL/RELEASE HOSTAGES:PEACE/... VIS 20040430 (460)